Marriott says it won’t try to use “legal Wi-Fi security measures” again

In a statement on Friday, Marriott International said that it would drop its petition asking the Federal Communications Commission to allow it to block personal hotspots on Marriott premises.

The hotel chain was fined $600,000 by the FCC in October for blocking Wi-Fi signals set up by customers. Marriott paid the fine but remained defiant, saying that it was only trying to secure its own Wi-Fi by blocking unauthorized signals. Customers, however, argued that Marriott was trying to force them into buying the company’s own Wi-Fi products.

Earlier this month, Marriott promised that it would not block the Wi-Fi hotspots of its customers any longer. But it stopped short of saying that it would rescind its notice of proposed rulemaking to the FCC, perhaps hoping that a change of heart from the commission would allow it to take up its old practices again. Instead, the FCC issued a blunt “Enforcement Advisory” telling Marriott that blocking Wi-Fi in hotels is prohibited.

In a statement e-mailed to Ars on Friday afternoon, Marriott International CIO Bruce Hoffmeister wrote, “Marriott International has decided to withdraw as a party to the petition seeking direction from the FCC on legal Wi-Fi security measures.”

“Our intent was to protect personal data in Wi-Fi hotspots for large conferences,” Hoffmeister continued. “We thought we were doing the right thing asking the FCC to provide guidance, but the FCC has indicated its opposition. As we have said, we will not block Wi-Fi signals at any hotel we manage for any reason.” Hoffmeister added that as of January 15, Marriott has been offering free Wi-Fi to its Marriott Rewards members who book through the hotel chain.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA), which had backed Marriott in its fight to permit Wi-Fi blocking, wrote:

With some five million people checking into hotels every day, protecting their sensitive data is our top priority as is providing a safe and secure Wi-Fi connection. Our industry identified a critical issue and requested clarity from a governing body – the Federal Communications Commission – to clear up the significant confusion that exists around what tools businesses can use to legally protect guests’ vital personal data. We did not seek to block personal Wi-Fi.

However, it is clear that the petition is not achieving this goal, and that we must work in other ways to resolve this issue of consumer safety and cybersecurity. Consequently, today we are formally withdrawing our petition to the FCC.